Display device

ABSTRACT

AN ANIMATED DISPLAY DEVICE IN WHICH A PLURALITY OF MOVABLE SMALL DISPLAY MEMBERS ARE MOUNTED ON AN OSCILLATING OR REVOLVING SUPPORT, AND WHEREIN A SINGLE ACTUATING MEMBER SYNCHRONOUSLY MOVES ALL OF THE SMALL DISPLAY MEMBERS RELATIVE TO A LARGE DISPLAY MEMBER IS RESPONSE TO THE OSCILLATORY OR ROTARY INPUT, SO AS TO ALTERNATELY COVER AND UNCOVER PART OR ALL OF THE DISPLAY MATERIAL ON THE LARGE MEMBER.

Feb. 16, 1971 SCHOENUNG 3,562,936

DISPLAY DEVICE Filed May 5, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 T A. F. SCHOENUNG Feb.16, 1971 DISPLAY DEVICE I 4 SheetsShe et 3 Filed May 5.196s

1 7 A. F. SCHOENUNG 3,562,936

DISPLAY DEVICE Filed llay 5, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 DISPLAY DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May's, 1968 United States Patent Office 3,562,935 Patented Feb. 16, 1971 3,562,936 DISPLAY DEVICE Alois 1F. Schoenung, Naperville, Ill., assignor to Rapid Mounting and Finishing Company, a corporation of Illinois Filed May 3, 1968, Ser. No. 726,418 Int. Cl. C09f 11/00 US. Cl. 40-61 14 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An animated display device in which a plurality of movable small display members are mounted on an oscillating or revolving support; and wherein a single actuating member synchronously moves all of the small display members relative to a large display member in response to the oscillatory or rotary input, so as to alternately cover and uncover part or all of the display material on the large member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to a display device, and more particularly to an animated display device wherein a plurality of movable display members are provided. Animated display devices are in common usage in commercial establishments and their primary function is to catch the eye of a potential customer and draw his attention to an advertising message relating to a particular product. While many different types of animated display devices have been provided in the past, heretofore a simple and inexpensive display device wherein a first set of display members cover or obscure a message in one position and expose the message in another position, has not been provided.

SUMMARY The display device of the present invention provides a novel arrangement wherein a large display member, which may be either fixed or rotatable, carries an appropriate advertising message, and a plurality of small display members, which may also carry a message, are mounted about the periphery of the large display member for movement relative thereto between a first position covering the advertising message on the first member and a second position exposing the advertising message. The small members are in parallel planes forward of the large member so that they may move without interfering with one another. The display device of the present invention, in one of its forms, includes motor driven means for oscillating the large display member; while in another form that member is fixed. Operating means is connected to each of the small display members at a position off-set from their pivot axes for moving the small display members to cover and uncover all or part of the large display member. The operating means is defined by a single member having a suitable geometric shape, such as an annulus, and the small display members are connected to the annulus by parallel links or crank arms. In one form of the invention the annulus is oscillated while in a second form it is rotated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a first embodiment of the display device of the present invention, and illustrating the second display members in a first position covering the advertising message on the first display member;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view similar to FIG. 1, and illustrating the second display members in a second position exposing the advertising message on the first display member;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the display device illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a view taken generally along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged vertical central sectional view taken generally along line 5-5 of FIG. 3, illustrating the means for mounting the display motor;

FIG. 6 is a view taken generally along line 66 of FIG. 4, and illustrating motor position when the display members are in a first position, in solid lines, and when the display members are in a second position, in dotted lines;

FIG. 7 is a view taken generally along line 77 of FIG. 4, with certain parts broken away for clarity of illustration, and showing the display members in a rest or intermediate position;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of a second embodiment of the display device of the present invention, and illustrating the second display members in a position exposing an advertising message on a first display member;

FIG. 10 is a front elevational view similar to FIG. 9, and illustrating the second display members in a position covering the advertising message 011 the first display member; and

FIG. 11 is an enlarged rear elevational view of the display device of FIGS. 9 and 10, and showing the drive means for the second display members.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail only preferred embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated. The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-8, the embodiment of the display device illustrated therein is designated generally at 10, and includes a rectangularly shaped upright member 11 having a transverse flange or base 12 at the lower end thereof. identically shaped support members 13 are provided adjacent opposite edges of upright member 11; and each support member 13 includes a flange portion 14 secured to the rear face of upright member 11 adjacent one edge thereof, and a rearwardly extending portion 15 that is adapted to rest on a support and stabilize the display device in an upright position. Holding tabs 16 are punched out of members 13, and each holding tab includes a rearwardly facing slot 17 that engages the rearwardly extending portion 15 of one of members 13 to retain the member at right angles with respect to upright member 11. Members 11 and 13 are preferably formed from a relatively rigid cardboard material.

Upright member 11 is provided with a pair of vertically spaced, generally rectangular openings 20 and 21 at the center thereof, and a transverse web portion 11a of upright member 11 separates openings 20 and 21. An oscil lating motor means 22 is carried upon upright member 11, and the motor means 22 may take the form of that disclosed in Wengel Pat. 2,598,954. Motor means 22 includes a generally U-shaped bracket 24 having spaced, vertically extending legs 25 and 26 separated by a horizontal bight portion 27. Stamped hook portions 28 and 29 extend outwardly from leg 26, and the bracket 24 is mounted to the upright member 11 by inserting the hook portions 28 and 29 through openings 26 and 21, respectively, and moving the bracket 24 downwardly so that the hook portion 28 embraces the web portion 11a of member 11, while the hook 29 embraces the portion of member 11 immediately below opening 21. Back to back, generally U-shaped, battery holding brackets 30 and 31 (FIG. 7) are secured to one another and to the bight portion 27 of bracket 24 with the brackets 30 and 31 including appropriate sockets for batteries B1 and B2. A connector C extends between the lower terminals of the batteries to connect them in series.

A coil 32 is carried on a bobbin 33 that is secured to the bight portion 27 of bracket 24, with one end of coil 32 being connected to the batteries B1 and B2 through lead 34. The other end of coil 32 is connected to a resilient contact 35 that extends upwardly from the rear arm 25 of bracket 24. A shaft 37 is rotatably mounted in the arms 25 and 26 of bracket 24, and the straight portion of a generally D-shaped magnet carrier 38 is fixed to the under surface of shaft 37. A magnet 39 is fixed at the center of the curved portion of member 38, and the magnet 39 is positioned to move through the center of coil 32, as will hereinafter appear. A contact 40 is secured to shaft 37 for movement therewith, and contact 40 extends downwardly from shaft 37 into a position to engage the upper end of contact 35 as the shaft 37 rotates. A counterweight 41 is preferably connected to the rearward portion of shaft 37 by an upwardly extending arm 42, and counterweight 41 functions to assist in oscillating member 38, as will also hereinafter appear.

In operation, assuming that magnet 39 is permanently magnetized so as to have a south pole at the right-hand end thereof as viewed in FIG. 7, and a north pole at the left-hand end thereof, and assuming further that coil 32 is wound so as to produce a south pole at the right-hand end thereof and a north pole at the left-hand end thereof, when the coil is energized through the series circuit including batteries B1 and B2, the respective poles of the coil 32 and magnet 39 will repel one another so as to pivot member 38 and shaft 37 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 7. As soon as the right-hand end of magnet 39 passes the center of coil 32, the north pole of the coil begins to attract the south pole of the magnet, but before the right-hand end of the magnet reaches the left-hand end of the coil, contact 40 moves out of engagement with contact 35 to interrupt the energizing circuit for coil 32. Because of the momentum of counterweight 41, the member 38 and shaft 37 will continue to swing in a clockwise direction, and the arc of movement of member 38 and shaft 37 is limited by a post 24a that extends transversely between the legs 25 and 26 of bracket 24, with the post 24a being positioned in the path of movement of carrier 38, as is clear from FIG. 4.

When shaft 37 and member 38 begin to pivot in a counterclockwise direction, as the magnet 39 reaches the center of the coil 32, contacts 35 and 40 are again closed to re-energize coil 32, but the momentum of member 38 is sufiicient to carry the right-hand end of magnet 39 past the center of the coil 32, so that the poles of the coil and magnet repel one another, thus continuing the counterclockwise pivoting movement of shaft 37 and member 38. As the left-hand end of magnet 39 passes the center of coil 32, its north pole will be attracted to the south pole of the coil to further urge member 38 and shaft 37 in a counterclockwise direction. However, before the lefthand end of magnet 39 reaches the left-hand end of coil 32, contact 40 moves out of engagement with contact 35 and the momentum of members 37 and 38, due to counterweight 41, is sufficient to carry the magnet 39 beyond the coil 32. Post 24a again serves as a means for limiting the arcuate travel of the shaft 37, and When the peak of movement of shaft 37 and member 38 is reached, the parts again begin to move in a clockwise direction, and the cycle is continued so long as batteries B1 and B2 en- 4 ergize the circuit. The total arcuate travel of shaft 37 and member 38 is approximately 150.

As can be best seen in FIG. 5, shaft 37 extends outwardly of upright member 11 through opening 20, and a leg 52 generally in the form of an inverted U extends upwardly from the end portion of shaft 37 to form a coupling means 50. A first display member 53 is connected to coupling means for oscillation by shaft 37 by a sleeve 54 having a mounting tab 55 secured to the rearwardly facing surface of display member 53, with tab 55 preferably being adhesively secured to the display member 53. Sleeve 54 is located in a position such that the shaft 37 will be aligned with the geometric center of the display member 53, when the U-shaped portion 52 forming coupling means 50 is received within the sleeve 54. As can be best seen in FIG. 2, display member 53 is preferably circular in shape, and a display message 56 is preferably provided on the front surface of the display member 53 in the central area thereof.

First display member 53 includes a plurality of equally circumferentially spaced holes 57 (FIG. 8), and a sleeve 58 is provided in each hole 57 to define a plurality of pivot axes perpendicular to the plane of member 53 and spaced radially outwardly an equal distance from the center thereof. Each sleeve 58 includes three spaced ribs defining therebetween a relatively short portion 59 corresponding to the thickness of display member 53, and a relatively long portion 60. Alternate sleeves 58 are positioned with their relatively long portions 60 facing in opposite directions from the plane of display member 53 for a purpose to hereafter appear. Sleeves 58 are preferably in the form of rivets or eyelets, with the rib outwardly of sleeve portion 59 being deformed into engagement with the adjacent surface of display member 53 after the sleeves have been positioned within the holes 57.

A plurality of second display members 62 are mounted for pivotal movement with respect to first display member 53 and as can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the second display members 62 are illustrated as having the shape of an arrowhead, with one leg of each second display member 62 being mounted for pivotal movement relative to first display member 53 about an axis defined by a sleeve 58. To this end, a shaft 63 is pivotally mounted in each sleeve 58, with each shaft 63 including an axially off-set crank portion 64 and a transversely extending intermediate portion 65. Each second display member 62 includes a generally T-shaped mounting clip '66 on the rearward face thereof, with the cross portion 68 of the mounting clip being retained under an adhesive holding tab 67, and with the leg portion of the clip 66 being formed by two spaced members 69 and 70 extending outwardly through an opening in tab 67. Each clip 66 is preferably formed of a suitable, somewhat resilient plastic material, and facing surfaces of portions 69 and 70 are provided with a bore 71 that is preferably hexagonal in cross section for slidably receiving the end of shaft 63 to mount the second display members 62 on the shafts 63 for movement therewith. Display members 53 and 62 are preferably formed of a light weight, yet relatively rigid, plastic or cardboard material.

Means is provided for pivoting each of the second display members 62 relative to the first display member 53 and said means includes a single member in the form of a weighted annular disc 73. Disc 73 is provided with a central opening 74 allowing the coupling portion 50 of shaft 37 to have access to the sleeve 54 on first display member 53. As is evident from FIG. 7, member 73 is mounted with its center of gravity off-set from the center of first display member 53, and to this end, a plurality of equally circumferentially spaced openings 75 are provided adjacent the periphery of member 73, with the offset end portions 64 of shafts 63 each being pivotally received in an opening 75. The end portions 64a of shaft portions 64 may be upset as illustrated in FIG. 8 to re tain the disc 73 on the shafts. The intermediate portions 65 of shafts 63 function as parallel linkage means connecting the disc 73 to the first display member 53.

Disc 73 is preferably formed of a material that is heavier than members 62, and a disc of relatively rigid plastic material is suitable for the purposes of the present invention. Thus, as the first display member 53 is oscillated by shaft 37, the disc 73 swings relative to the display member 53 with the geometric center of disc 73 remaining in a generally fixed position to thereby retain shaft portions 65 in a vertical disposition. Second display members 62 are preferably arranged so that at one peak of movement of disc 73, the advertising message on first display member 53 is covered as is illustrated in FIG. 1, while at the opposite peak of movement of disc 73 the second display members 62 are pivoted to a position exposing the advertising message on the first display member. To maximize the display effect, the second display members 62 are preferably formed of a material having a color which contrasts with that of the first display member 53. As is evident from FIG. 3, since sleeves 58 are reversed on adjacent second display members, the adjacent members are interleaved and off-set from one another, so as to be free to move relative to one another.

Referring now to FIGS. 911, a modified form of display device is illustrated therein, and is designated generally at 80. Display device 80 includes a generally rectangularly shaped upright member 81 having a rearwardly extending supporting base 82. Upright 81 has a central circular opening 83 therein, and a transversely extending support bar 84 is positioned rearwardly of upright 81 in diametrical alignment with opening 83. Support bar 84 is retained in spaced relationship with respect to the rearward surface of upright 81 by mounting brackets 85 that are secured to rearwardly and inwardly folded side portions 86 of the upright 81. Illustratively, brackets 85 may have slots therein that are impaled by hook end portions of the support bar 84.

A motor 87 (FIG. 11) is fixed to support bar 84, and a pinion 88 is fixed to the output shaft of motor 87. A driven gear 89 meshes with pinion 88, and gear 89 is rotatable about a fixed shaft 90 that is fixed to the support bar 84. A drive hub 91 is fixed to gear 89 for rotation therewith, and the center of shaft 90 is aligned with the center of opening 83 so that gear 89 and drive hub 91 are rotatable about an axis that is aligned with the geometric center of opening 83. Shaft 90 extends outwardly of upright 81 through opening 83, and a circular display member 92, having indicia thereon, is fixed on the outer end of shaft 90. As is evident from FIG. 9, the diameter of member 92 is less than the diameter of opening 83, so that an annular area is defined therebetween.

A circular carrier disc 93 (FIG. 11) is fixed to drive hub 91 for rotation therewith, and the outer diameter of disc 93 is larger than the diameter of opening 83, so that the front surface of the disc 93 is visible through the annular area outwardly of member 92. A plurality of movable display members 94 are mounted upon disc 93 for rotation therewith, and to this end, disc 93 is provided with a plurality of equally circumferentially spaced keyhole slots 95 (FIG. 11) positioned in alignment with the annular area outwardly of member 92. A bearing sleeve 96 is fixedly inserted in the reduced dimension portion of each slot 95, and each bearing sleeve 96 pivotally supports a shaft 97 for a display member 94. Each shaft 97 includes a forwardly extending portion 98 that is disposed generally perpendicularly with respect to upright member 81, and the outer end of each shaft portion 98 is bent upwardly into an inverted U-shaped configuration 99 that is slidably received in a sleeve 100 adhesively, or otherwise suitably secured to, the rear surface of each display member 94. The rearward ends of shafts 97 include laterally extending crank arm portions 101 and Weighted means, in the form of an annular disc 103, is provided for moving the display members 94 relative to the upright 81 between the position of FIG. 9 and the position of FIG. 10, and to this end, disc 103 is provided with a plurality of equally circumferentially spaced openings 103a, each of which receive the rearwardly extending portion 102 of a shaft 97 therethrough. Disc 103 includes a central opening 104 the center of which is laterally off-set from the center of shaft 90 by a distance equal to the throw of crank arms 101. A support rod 105 extends forwardly from support bar 84 into the opening 104 in disc 103, and the disc rests freely upon the rod 105. Disc 104 is preferably formed of a material, such as a suitable plastic material, having a low coefficient of friction with respect to rod 105 so that the disc can move freely over rod 105.

In operation, when motor 87 is energized, disc 93 is rotated about shaft 90 by gears 88 and 89. Shafts 97 move in the annular space outwardly of member 92; and disc 103, which rotates because of the engagement of shaft portions 102, retains the crank arms 101 parallel further shaft portions 102 extend rearwardly from the outer end of crank arm portions 101.

with one another and generally horizontally disposed. Because of this, the display members 94 do not have angular motion relative to one another, and when the disc 93 is rotated 180 from the position of FIG. 9 to the position of FIG. 10, the display members 94 move from a position exposing a display message on member 92 to a position substantially covering the display message on display member 92. It will be appreciated that by forming the members 94 of an appropriate shape, and by placing the sleeves at an appropriate location toward the side of members 94, the display message on member 92 can be completely covered, if desired. The forwardly extending portions 98 of shafts 97 of adjacent display members 94 preferably extend outwardly different distances from upright 81, so that the display members 94 may move into interleaved relationship with respect to one another, as illustrated in FIG. 10, without interference.

I claim:

1. A display device comprising: a support; motor means on said support having an output shaft; a large display member; means mounting said large display member on said shaft with the geometric center of said large display member generally aligned with the axis of said shaft; a plurality of mounting shafts each of which has a main portion pivotally mounted in an opening in said large display member, said mounting shafts each including an offset portion which is generally parallel with respect to its main portion; weighted means defined by a single annular member connected to each of said offset portions; a plurality of small display members each of which is fixedly mounted on the main portion of one of said mounting shafts so as to be moved relative to said large display member by pivotal movement of said mounting shafts; and means for moving said annular member in response to energization of said motor means to move said small display members relative to said large display member.

2. A display device as set forth in claim 1 wherein adjacent small display members are offset axially with respect to one another to position them in parallel planes.

3. A display device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said offset portions are pivotally mounted in said annular member.

4. A display device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said mounting shafts each include an intermediate portion extending generally transversely between its main and offset portions, the intermediate portions of each of said mounting shafts being generally parallel with one another.

5. A display device as set forth in claim 1 in which display indicia is provided on one face of said large display member, and wherein said small display members are movable between a first position substantially covering said indicia and a second position LXposing said indicia.

6. A display device as set forth in claim wherein the small display members also have indicia thereon.

7. For use in a display device, a large display memher; a plurality of mounting shafts each having a main portion pivotally mounted in an opening in said large display member, said mounting shafts each including an offset portion generally parallel with respect to its main portion; weighted means defined by a single member connected to each of said offset portions for pivoting said mounting shafts in said openings; a plurality of small display members, there being one of said small display members fixedly mounted on each of said mounting shaft main portions; and means for moving said weighted means to rotate said mounting shafts and thereby move said small display members relative to said large display member.

8. The display device of claim 7 in which the operating means comprises eccentric means and a crank arm connecting said eccentric means to each of said plurality of shafts.

9. The display device of claim 7 in which the motor means has an oscillating output.

10. The display device of claim 7 in which the motor means has a rotary output.

11. The display device of claim 7 in which the large display member is rotated by the motor means in conjunction with the actuation of the operating means.

12. The display device of claim 7 in which the large display member is fixed.

13. The display device of claim 7 in which the large display member has display material thereon, and the small display members move between first positions exposing said display material and second positions covering at least a substantial portion of said display material.

14. The display device of claim 13 in which small display members are alternately offset in parallel planes so that they may overlap each other to a substantial extent during movement between their first and second positions and thereby produce a predetermined visual effect during such movement.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 489,027 1/1893 McDonald 40-34 1,465,839 8/1923 Carroll 4061 1,822,798 9/1931 Carroll 40-61 2,598,954- 6/1952 Wengel 40106.41X

ROBERT W. MICHELL, Primary Examiner L. R. OREMLAND', Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 4034 

